The project is seen as emblematic of warming relations between New Delhi and Tokyo, who are seeking to combat China’s growing regional influence.

The high-speed link, which will use Japanese technology to connect the main city of Modi’s home state with India’s financial capital, is scheduled for completion by December 2023.

“I hope to enjoy the beauty of India through the windows of the bullet train with Modi on my side when I come to India in a few years,” Abe told a ceremony in Ahmedabad.

“It marks the beginning of a new chapter in ties between India and Japan,” he added.

“The Indo-Japan relationship is not just about bilateral trade. It has developed into a strategic and global partnership in the Indian-Pacific region,” Abe said.

His visit comes just after a border standoff between India and China in a disputed and strategically important Himalayan area.

Local media reports said Japan was likely to take up the sale of ShinMaywa US-2 amphibious aircraft that India has been interested in for several years.

The aircraft is expected to boost India’s maritime capabilities.

Modi welcomed Abe at the airport with his traditional big hug before the Japanese premier and his wife changed into traditional Indian dress.

Japan is providing 85 percent of the cost of the new train link in soft loans.

The fast-growing India-Japan ties got a major fillip as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe on Thursday laid the foundation stone here for India’s first bullet train project based on Japan’s Shinkansen super speed train technology.

Speaking at the event, Modi said the bullet train project would add pace to the country’s development, and would also help in empowerment of the poor.

Modi said that no country can grow if they don’t dream big. “To grow one needs to expand his dreams and decide his strength to achieve that.”

“It’s new India which has to fly high,” the Prime Minister said. “Bullet train is a project that will provide pace to development. Along with new technology it will also bring results faster.”

In his remarks, Abe said “a strong India is in Japan’s interest, and a strong Japan is in India’s interest. Today, on this day, that part of the bright future is seen in solid form.”

He said that Japan’s Shinkansen Technology, which will power India’s bullet train project, has changed his country’s economy, society and people’s lives.

Abe expressed the hope that he will soon enjoy the beautiful green scenery of India through the windows of bullet train “when I come back here in a few years”.

Modi said that with the foundation laying of the project India has fulfilled its very old dream.

“Bullet train will bring employment as well as speed. The Bullet train project is human friendly and eco friendly.”

Modi also expressed gratitude to Japan for providing technology and financial assistance of Rs 88,000 crore at 0.1 per cent interest.

He emphasised that the Bullet train is in a way a big gift from Japan to India. “It is in a way a project being constructed for free. And I will once again thank Japan for helping India with technological and economical support,” Modi said.

The Prime Minister said the bullet train will also help bring people of the two cities together and will be environment friendly as it will reduce the burden of vehicles on highways and reduce fuel consumption.

Highlighting the benefits of the bullet train, Modi said: “A new economic system will also develop on this route (Ahmedabad-Mumbai). The entire area between the two cities will change into a single economic zone. A high speed corridor will also help develop India and give speed to economic progress.”

He said the bullet train technology will help in fighting poverty. “There is concern that new technology is meant for the rich only. But technology can also be used for empowerment of the poor. Our aim is to make technology so affordable through maximum use that it becomes associated with the life of the poor,” he pointed out.

The Prime Minister said the high speed training institute for the bullet train coming up in Vadodara, the foundation stone for which was also laid on Thursday, is also important.

Abe in his speech praised Modi as a “farsighted leader”.

“My good friend Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a farsighted leader. And he took a decision two years ago to bring high speed rail in India and to create a New India. And then our country decided to fully support Modi’s vision, culminating in the progress of the project,” the Japanese Prime Minister said.

The distance will be covered in two hours and seven minutes if the train stops at four stations — Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat and Mumbai. If the train stops at all 12 stations, it will cover the distance in two hours and fifty-eight minutes.

According to Railway Ministry officials, the operating speed of the bullet train would be 320 kmph and the maximum speed would be 350 kmph.

Speaking at the event, Modi said the bullet train project would add pace to the country’s development, and would also help in empowerment of the poor.

Modi said that no country can grow if they don’t dream big. “To grow one needs to expand his dreams and decide his strength to achieve that.”

“It’s new India which has to fly high,” the Prime Minister said. “Bullet train is a project that will provide pace to development. Along with new technology it will also bring results faster.”

In his remarks, Abe said “a strong India is in Japan’s interest, and a strong Japan is in India’s interest. Today, on this day, that part of the bright future is seen in solid form.”

He said that Japan’s Shinkansen Technology, which will power India’s bullet train project, has changed his country’s economy, society and people’s lives.

Abe expressed the hope that he will soon enjoy the beautiful green scenery of India through the windows of bullet train “when I come back here in a few years”.

Modi said that with the foundation laying of the project India has fulfilled its very old dream.

“Bullet train will bring employment as well as speed. The Bullet train project is human friendly and eco friendly.”

Modi also expressed gratitude to Japan for providing technology and financial assistance of Rs 88,000 crore at 0.1 per cent interest.

He emphasised that the Bullet train is in a way a big gift from Japan to India. “It is in a way a project being constructed for free. And I will once again thank Japan for helping India with technological and economical support,” Modi said.

The Prime Minister said the bullet train will also help bring people of the two cities together and will be environment friendly as it will reduce the burden of vehicles on highways and reduce fuel consumption.

Highlighting the benefits of the bullet train, Modi said “A new economic system will also develop on this route (Ahmedabad-Mumbai). The entire area between the two cities will change into a single economic zone. A high speed corridor will also help develop India and give speed to economic progress.”

He said the bullet train technology will help in fighting poverty. “There is concern that new technology is meant for the rich only. But technology can also be used for empowerment of the poor. Our aim is to make technology so affordable through maximum use that it becomes associated with the life of the poor,” he pointed out.

The Prime Minister said the high speed training institute for the bullet train coming up in Vadodara, the foundation stone for which was also laid on Thursday, is also important.

Abe in his speech praised Modi as a “farsighted leader”.

“My good friend Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a farsighted leader. And he took a decision two years ago to bring high speed rail in India and to create a New India. And then our country decided to fully support Modi’s vision, culminating in the progress of the project,” the Japanese Prime Minister said.

The distance will be covered in two hours and seven minutes if the train stops at four stations — Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat and Mumbai. If the train stops at all 12 stations, it will cover the distance in two hours and fifty-eight minutes.

According to Railway Ministry officials, the operating speed of the bullet train would be 320 kmph and the maximum speed would be 350 kmph.